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Friday, December 9, 2011

Favorite Scene Friday! Scrooged: Frank's Speech

As Perry Como said, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
It’s easy to get stressed out this time of year, considering all of the
planning, shopping, and traveling that comes with this season. It’s important
to stop every now and then and appreciate the holidays – call someone you
haven’t spoken with in a few years. Sing along to some holiday tunes. Build a
snowman, weather permitting.

But forget about all that for right now and watch this
scene! It’s from 1988’s Scrooged, my favorite
Christmas film.

Bill Murray, as Frank Cross, spends the whole movie being a
modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge, an irredeemable prick that’s completely lost touch
with humanity. Watch this scene if you need a
refresher. Free bonus laughs included.

Something happens to Frank, however. Several encounters with
Christmas ghosts show him how he used to be before becoming a scumbag, how his
selfishness affects others, and what’s in store for him if he doesn’t change
his ways.

Murray’s at his best when he’s playing an ass that finds
redemption, and I think it’s because the actor can play a jerk and a wonderful
person with equal ease.I love this
scene because it’s so rewarding to see Frank completely transformed into a caring
person. The speech he gives is totally genuine, and the song that breaks out at
the end of the scene says it best – the world really can be a better place if
you care about others.

I could understand if some people find Murray a little corny
at the end of his speech, but I think it’s great. Bill’s truly a fine actor. And
it always warms my heart and gives me goosebumps when little Calvin – Scrooged’s version of Tiny Tim – has his
moment. If Frank hadn’t completely found his miracle by then, there was no
denying it after hearing Calvin speak.

Check out ole’ Lumpy and the gang below. And have a Happy
Friday and an even Happier Holiday season!

For some reason I actually did not like this final speech because it was annoying and weird how Murray was just screaming the whole time instead of just being joyous. Still, the film was pretty good itself. Nice post.